Lovely & rare - small, amber colored, glass padre beads.
The name ‘padre’ originates from the fact that Franciscan priests, or padres, gave the beads to Native Americans for their good work and to convert them to Christianity. Padre beads are mentioned by Lewis and Clark who stated that the beads helped them to trade with the natives.
Most padre beads were originally made in China and taken to America, Africa, and India by traders during the 18th and the 19th centuries.
The padre beads in this necklace are rare because of their small size. Strung on gold filled wire.